Knee sled



Aug. 30, 1949. J. c. FORNEY 2,480,406

' KNEE SLED Filed May 1, 1947 3 wu am kw Jim '6. Forney Patented Aug.30, 1949 oetics KNEE SLED- Jim 0. Forney, Chara, j'r x; Application May1, 1947, Serial No. 745,301

3 Claims.

This invention relates to knee pads and protectors, and moreparticularly to a form of knee sled.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a knee protector 0rsled which can be worn comfortably and will provide an efficient cushionfor the knees when one assumes a kneeling position. It is also an objectof the invention to provide a new and novel form of harness for securinthe knee protectors in operative position and for preventing theaccidental displacement of the knee protectors when the wearer assumesan erect position.

These desirable features are attained by providing a knee rest, or kneesled, consisting substantially of but three main elements, namely asingle frame member which is preferably made of spring steel rod, aslip-on cover of strong textile material to receive the knee, the frameincluding an upwardly extending, inclined portion arranged to supportthe wearers thighs when a position of rest is assumed, and a. harness orfastening means which secure the knee sleds to the wearer.

The nature and scope of the invention will be more fully understood fromthat embodiment of which the following is a specification, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of knee sleds or protectors,showing the same in operative position, and illustratin the harness forsecuring the protectors in position.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the sled frame per se.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a knee sled shOWing the harnessattachment, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sled frame and fabric cover,showing fragmentarily the attaching harness thereof.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, the deviceincludes as its principal structural foundation a frame member which ispreferably fabricated from a single length of spring steel rod whichlatter is bent to define ground engaging runners 2. The rod at forwardportions of the runners is bent upwardly at 3, to approximate a rightangle bend, and is then bent rearwardly as indicated at 4 and thenceupwardly as shown at 5. The frame continues through a body-forming bendat 6 to define a, curved, thigh conforming support at I disposed wellabove and at an angle with respect to the ground engaging runners 2. Theextreme ends 8 of the runners are turned slightly upward to facilitatemaneuverin the sleds over the soil or floor, as the case may be. Thus isformed a frame which resembles a chair.

In conjunction with the frame member thus constructed and arranged thereis provided a slip-on cover of canvas or the like which is drawn intothe upper portion of the frame, as is best shown in Figure 4.

The slip-on cover 9 is provided with an opening I0, suitably reinforcedby a seam Illa through which the wearers leg is passed, in the mannershown in Figure 1, and allows the wearers knee to cradle in portion llof the cover.

A harness strap I2 is provided to support the frame and an inverted Yarrangement is formed thereon at [3 to facilitate control and morestable placement of the sled upon the leg. The arms of the Y are joinedto the lower end of the canvas cover 9 by means such as brads H! whichpass through a reinforced section I5 of the cover.

To the upper end of the strap [2 is attached a snap fastener l6, whichis connected to a ring I! attached to a belt I 8, the latter bein passedaround the wearers waist. Suitable means for the adjustment of the strapl2 may be provided to accommodate one of any stature.

In the operation of this device the legs of the wearer are inserted inthe openings Ill of a pair of the sleds and the straps l2 are connectedto the belt l8 in the manner described. The wearer is then free toassume standing or kneeling positions at will, and is assured of comfortover lon periods of time spent in the latter position. A position ofrest in the kneeling position is illustrated in Figure 1 when the wearerrests the backs of his thighs on the support 1, which permits relaxationof the upper portion of the body.

It is realized that considerable variation from the details set forth ispossible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thereforethe invention is not limited to the specific form and details herein setforth and described above except as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A knee protector comprising a chair-like frame formed of a length ofspring steel rod to define a thigh rest, a knee support receivingportion and parallel runners, a slip-on cover embracing said thigh restand forming a knee support on the knee support receiving portion of saidframe and. having an opening therein to receive the limb of the wearerand means for suspending said frame from the waist of the wearer.

2. A knee protector including a frame fabricated from a length of springsteel rod to define thigh rest and knee support receiving portion, 10

runners carried by said frame below said knee support receiving portion,a slip-0n cover for said thigh rest and knee support receiving por tionto support the knee of the wearer and having a limb receiving openingand means for sus- 15 pending said frame from the waist of said wearer.

JIM C. FORNEY,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 736,648 Steers Aug. 18, 1903768,478 Nash Aug. 23, 1904 1,155,491 Holsey Oct. 5, 1915 1,269,829Lumley June 18, 1918 2,229,411 Hughes Jan. 21, 1941 2,432,565 FergusonDec. 16, 1947

